As part of this year’s festival of learning, a group of people have come together at TAPE Community Music and Filmto produce this short promotional film in support of the Off Y Grid network of independent cinemas.

This film will now be used in participating cinemas across North Wales in support of this fantastic scheme. Congratulations to all involved and thank you for bringing your ideas and enthusiasm to the project.

Last week TAPE had the pleasure of being able to take part in this year’s Festival of Learning week. From the 19th through to the 22nd a group of people had the task of creating a short promo video for the Off Y Grid independent cinema network in North Wales. The film was made to showcase the importance of independent cinema and how working together can make a difference in the community.

The team decided on how they wanted the finished film to look, they were then shown by a member of our team how to turn their ideas into digital art, the fun and enthusiasm was shared by everyone in the group and here at TAPE.

We are all looking forward to viewing the finished promo which will launch online tomorrow afternoon followed by a big screen premiere here at TAPE.

On June 17th TAPE Community Music and Film turned 9 years old. TAPE is a truly inclusive community arts charity which provides spaces, support and equipment through which anyone can explore their creative ideas, whatever they may be. Over the past 9 years, TAPE has;

Engaged and supported over 20,000 people

Delivered workshops, projects, events and festivals for people throughout Wales

Provided outreach projects and workshops in communities across North, South and Mid-Wales.

Created over 100 full, part-time and freelance jobs for local creative people

Partnered with in excess of 200 different organisations, businesses, chartities and services

Successfully managed over £1.5 million of funding

Supported thousands of hours of progressive volunteering for young people and adults across Welsh communities

Supported people with housing, employment, advocacy, health and wellbeing issues, through relationships built upon positive, creative foundations

Played a key part in developing and demonstrating best practice around inclusion, social enterprise and person-led support through our ethos and delivery

TAPE is a growing charity which is affecting real change for those taking part. You can support our work by donating via Localgiving;

www.localgiving.org/appeal/happybirthdayTAPE

Donating during our birthday appeal will also allow us to access additional funding as Localgiving will be matching donations up to the value of £25

Our birthday appeal will provide support to individuals through TAPE’S Ignite Scheme, which has so far provided one-to-one creative support for over 100 young people and adults across Conwy, Denbighshire, Gwynedd and Flintshire.

For more information and a copy of TAPE’S birthday report, please contact info@tapemusicandfilm.co.uk

The Fortified Beats performance on the 17th of October will celebrate the work of young people in Conwy Alternative Education who have created a series of short films and musical pieces reflecting the life and times of The Princes of Gwynedd.

Stuey Jones is a regular participant on our local history project Rhyl Reflections. Stuey has been kind enough to share some words about his time and experience working towards a film that documents Rhyl in its heyday.

I first heard the words “Rhyl Reflections” from my good friend, David Hughes.
I was told about a Rhyl History project going on at community first on Marsh Road, here in Rhyl, every Thursday. I had worked with David before on a different filming project and my Rhyl local history proved invaluable, especially because of my Aspergers. I can remember, places, dates when things were built and the locality of local landmarks and buildings.

I’ve been working with TAPE for some time now and it has been very enjoyable in applying my knowledge about Old Rhyl. I think that my vast collection of postcard, book, brochures and flyers have really helped bring Rhyl Reflections to life.

Prior to joining, filming had already begun. In November 2015 I had the chance to watch the film with David Hughes and with interviews with local people.
I thought to myself; “I could really help out here”.
At the end of the film David introduced me to Neil Dunsire, the man involved in the ‘TAPE’ project and from there I learned more about the film.

The first Thursday that I arrived, I was nervous! But after settling in I felt I belonged with these people. I’ve made friends with people I’d never met before and from there we have been a great team.
Since, I have worked with many people thanks to Rhyl Reflections and have enjoyed my own research. I have worked on site at Communities First and off site filming in various locations and learning how interviews are filmed. I learned about working with different camera angles, and gained behind the camera experience to see first hand how a documentary comes to life.

It’s been an amazing experience and great to work with different people from different backgrounds. One thing that I have found is that we all have something different in common: we have all had experience is making our own home movies, comedy’s and plays. Our love of filmmaking has brought us all together and I think it’s fair to say each and every one of us have learned something from our experience here at Rhyl Reflections and have taken this experience and used it in our own filmmaking skills.

It’s been a journey here at Rhyl Reflections. Looking back at the special film showing event evening we had this year, I did a personal display of all my Rhyl memorabilia, books, postcard showing, Rhyl Brochures, past flyers, pictures of a long gone documented moments in time and not forgetting old Newspapers with a Rhyl Mummy murder mystery!

It’s been great working with Neil and Andy, Lisa, and everyone else. We have had a laugh here at Communities First involved with Tape and it’s been worth every minute, an enjoyable group get together to discuss ideas and even poem writing which I never knew I had in me!

Thank you to Communites First and Tape for inviting me along. I’ve personally enjoyed every minute of it. Thanks Guys ?

Kallum came to TAPE as part of the initial taster sessions which led to the establishing of the Backstage Youth Club. He has been involved in so much since then and it seemed like a nice idea to ask him to share a few of his thoughts about his time at TAPE for our blog. It is a heartfelt piece and we are very grateful to Kallum for all his hard work and his kind words. As Kalllum heads off to uni in September, we are delighted to say that he has accepted our invitation to be a co-opted trustee of TAPE and hope that, following his studies, he will move to become a full and active board member.

Kallum’s journey is mirrored by the stories of a great many people who’ve come to TAPE and is a really nice example of how a person’s experience here can develop and grow beyond their initial reason for coming along and how impactful such experiences can be.

Dear TAPE Community Music and Film

On reaching my 18th birthday I wanted to write this letter as a thank you for all my time here so far. I have been coming to TAPE since I was 12 after my teaching assistant gave me a leaflet for a taster session here at time with Afasic Cymru.

From that a youth group was started which became the Backstage Youth Club. Every Thursday I would come here and explore my creativity in a safe friendly environment. One of are early projects was a music video that I will still hide to this day for being so embarrassing. TAPE was away to escape from school and home for about 2 hours each week. With out it I might not be the man I am today. Through Backstage and TAPE I learned communication and life skills that have seen me to where I am today.

I must thank TAPE for taking a huge chance with me when I asked for work experience at TAPE, something that TAPE didn’t do. But Steve let me and on that week I learned a little about how TAPE works. Since then I returned to do a week of volunteer work after doing my GSCE exams and know volunteer on Fridays after finishing my A Levels. Helping prepare for the Coastline Film Festival and testing the new VR system and exploring what can and could be done with it.

Speaking of The Coastline Film Festival in its first year I offered my time to volunteer for the whole weekend. I ended up spending most my time at the Chapel Of Horror which was a blast. The Chapel was an amazing venue and I have offered my time again to the same venue this year hopefully we will have just as many laughs and frights as last year.

TAPE also gave me the opportunity to help others by volunteering at Animation Club on Saturday mornings. It wasn’t always easy but I enjoyed my time there helping young people create small and brilliant animations, it also opened my eyes to working with young people and how fantastic and rewarding it is to see them excel.

As I move on to university I want to say a huge thanks to TAPE without them I don’t really know if I would be in this place now. As I move on I hope that I can continue my relationship with TAPE and that I will come back from university with more to offer to Tape.

TAPE has helped me create a dream for my future of being a filmmaker though helping me to excel I have taken a new aspiration for all things TAPE does and what I can see myself doing in the future. TAPE has given me the confidence to be myself. As I plan to create my own projects I thank TAPE for there support over the years. A heartfelt thank you cannot simply say what I want so I hope to continue giving back to TAPE with my time and effort.

Rhyl Reflections – 7th July 2016 – Back at Tir Prince

Last week the team headed back to Tir Prince Fun Park to film some exciting cut aways!

The lovely folk at Tir Prince Fun Park once again allowed use of the fair for our session last week. This time, the aim of the shoot was to film much needed cutaway shots of rides and delicious treats that could accurately represent what was available on Rhyl Fun Fair in the 1960’s.

The group samples lots of the food at the fair…all in the name of the film, of course! Our favourites included the freshly cooked donuts and burgers.

TAPE member of staff Tom Ellis braved terrifying rides such as the Waltzers, bumper cars and the caterpillar ride (the later he was joined on by Rhyl Reflections group member John)! It is safe to say that this was one of the most enjoyable shoots of the project.

The group would like to thank Tir Prince Fun Park and all their wonderful staff for helping make the shoot possible and a huge thank you to all of the team who were involved on the day.

Special thanks to those of the group who stayed behind and did vital editing for the final film. Fantastic work by all.

And as always, we thank the wonderful Linda Hurst for her brilliant photos.

STOP PRESS

Poke the Muse at TAPE has had confirmation that thanks to funding from Conwy Communities First and the continued support of creative partners Conwy Wellbeing Team and Conwy Arts, the Open Studio sessions on a Monday afternoon will now be running regularly right the way through to March 2017!

The only breaks will be for Bank Holidays, so if you can carve out a couple of hours between 1.30 and 3.30, come along to enjoy some creative ‘me’ time. No pressure to produce, just freedom to explore and play with paper, pens, paints, inks, stamps, pencils, collage, words, images: whatever you fancy. Inspiration and prompts are offered around monthly themes, but you are welcome to work on your own project or simply have fun with the materials and equipment.

July’s theme is Victoriana. We’ve tried to include a bit of everything from inventions and discoveries, through social, political and industrial upheavals to the Pre-Raphaelites and Steam Punk – our current take on some of the intriguing machines, inventions, art, fashion and fiction of the era.

Next Monday July 11th Poke the Muse at TAPE is a little different.
Following what will probably be a shorter open studio session we are going to set the hall up for an Open Mic event for people to read and perform their work.
It is also a celebration to mark the publication of Poke the Muse’s first collection of writing and artwork.

Please feel free to bring yourself, friends and family to enjoy the show, have a look at the exhibition of work produced in sessions and buy a copy of The Collection!

Sessions are £1 contribution per person – refreshments are available at 50p each. booking is essential as places are limited.

For more details or to book your place, please contact Dee on 07982 709621 or via email dee.rivaz@gmail.com